Now i trust Bob Mac and if he says were looking to change the core that means Souray Koivu Rivet Markov Ryder Kovy etc .....i guess Gainey goona burn this mother to the ground ...which it probally needs a FRESH look with a younger group that wanna play .

our core players were rewarded with their salaries and were given multiple chances to prove their worth and they've failed yet again...Gainey right now, isn't looking to make deals like moving prospects, he wants to change the culture of this team, he wants a new face.

I hope he succeeds, cause those contracts to namely Koivu & Kovalev are going to be hard to move.

Actively looking vs actually doing something are way different things. If we somehow miraculously win the next three games, we will be back to square 1 and somehow under the impression that the team is back.

Actively looking vs actually doing something are way different things. If we somehow miraculously win the next three games, we will be back to square 1 and somehow under the impression that the team is back.

I will be furious if that happens.

I think Gainey seen it happen 2 YEARS in row now .
We come out with a great start to the season then go into the tail spin .

which is why we should have cut ties with Koivu last year. There is nothing like a new identity than a new Captain and a new first line center.

Hopefully he waives his NTC.

If Gainey can bring in a star centre to play on the 1st line, I could see Koivu enjoying great success on the 2nd line playing against 2nd-tier forwards. Less pressure on Saku = much more prodcution and less injuries for him. He won't slump as much either.

Agreed...it would be interesting to see who Gainey sees as the core of this team

Koivu
Kovalev
Souray
Rivet
Markov
Ryder

I honestly wouldn't be surprised one bit to see one, maybe two of those names leave by Feb 27th.

I've said it before that I fully expect Rivet to be dealt. I'm hoping for Kovalev to be moved. Ryder and Souray have some very good trade value IMO and should be very attractive to playoff ready teams.

Bob probably did say this and I agree that we need to change the core of our team, start with the coaching staff.

My Reasoning/ Shakeups that should be done.

1. Carbonneau, not calm and collected at all, he has made so many stupid decisions it's not even funny. JN on the fourth line is a joke, Obviously he is not motivating this team right now, nothing is going on, give him the axe, change it up a bit. The players need a wake up call and this might be it.

2. Saku Koivu is a second line centre, not a first. Keep him for the second line.

3. Sheldon Souray should be traded, he wants to go out west, he is UFA, he is a liability defensively, At least get some young players / prospects for him.

4. Michael Ryder is a third liner at best, who are we kidding?

5. Higgins is not a first liner, how many teams would he play first line on? I don't understand it.

our core players were rewarded with their salaries and were given multiple chances to prove their worth and they've failed yet again...Gainey right now, isn't looking to make deals like moving prospects, he wants to change the culture of this team, he wants a new face.

I hope he succeeds, cause those contracts to namely Koivu & Kovalev are going to be hard to move.

If it comes down to it, I honestly don't think he's be that hard to move. The main obstacle would be the NTC - I'm sure a lot of teams would drool at the possibility of landing him. He's got a pretty good reputation around the league despite the last bad month and a half. He was having a career year just prior to xmas.

That said, I personally don't think he's the key to the problem. Maybe we as fans have been expecting too much out of him? It's clear the poor depth at center (small size, low scoring) is hurting a lot. Teams can concentrate their defensive game plan around Koivu and pretty much shut down the offense.

which is why we should have cut ties with Koivu last year. There is nothing like a new identity than a new Captain and a new first line center.

Hopefully he waives his NTC.

I never agreed with Koivu's contract in the first place, when it happened I said it was a mistake, an understandable one, but still a mistake. It's kind of like Toronto Maple Leafs, they have a great player in Mats Sundin who I believe is a UFA...

Most fans want to see him back there, because he's their best player and they couldn't imagine the Leafs without Sundin, but if you think about it, what have the Leafs done while Sunding has been there???

I'm of the opinion that when you've tried going in a direction for x amount of years and it hasn't worked for x amount of reason, when you have the opportunity to go in another direction, you should take it, as much as it hurts to do so...Hell, I can't imagine the Habs without #11 as the captain, but it may be time to go in another direction.

Notice, i'm not advocating trading Saku, just saying that if the opportunity presents itself and the return is advantageous, you have to pull the trigger

If Gainey can bring in a star centre to play on the 1st line, I could see Koivu enjoying great success on the 2nd line playing against 2nd-tier forwards. Less pressure on Saku = much more prodcution and less injuries for him. He won't slump as much either.

I think Gainey seen it happen 2 YEARS in row now .
We come out with a great start to the season then go into the tail spin .

it's a trend and I think he is goona shake it up ,bigtime .

I hope so Doug. But I just dont see it. I want to know what you can possibly get for Kovalev that will make the team better. Koivu has a NTC. Souray and Markov are too valuable to the team. Trading them as rentals sends the wrong message to the everyone. Rivet is worthless. Ryder is worth a nice prospect but what the hell will that do for us in terms of making the playoffs THIS year (which I believe is the goal because that's just the way the business works)?

The only way to change the culture of the team is to trade prospects. And I dont see that happening either. You dont change the culture of the team at the deadline. You dont add leadership at the deadline. It's all supposed to be done in the summer.

Koivu had to go LAST year. That would have been the single biggest culture buster. Bob failed and I can't forget that. I can forgive the Kovalev contract but not the Koivu one.

You guys are kidding yourselves if you honestly think that a bad month and a half will suddenly make Gainey want to move Koivu. He is not the problem. Koivu will play out his contract here in Montreal and probably retire.